Top Sources

By Region


Classifieds

State Papers Domestic
Calendar of State Papers, Domestic 1537-1714, plus Scotland and Ireland for £30 pa - subscribe now
british-history.ac.uk
Medieval Close Rolls
Henry III - Henry VII (1227-1509). Double rekeyed volumes just £30 for year's access - subscribe now
british-history.ac.uk

Latest questions

dates What does the date 2d of Richard III mean and is...
Ebenezer Chapel Colchester There is an old chapel in Nunns Road in...
medieval law I am reading the rolls of the London Eyre 1244...

Religious houses
St Mary's hospital

Sponsor

Institute of Historical Research

Publication

Historical Account of Newcastle-upon-Tyne: Including the Borough of Gateshead

Author

Eneas Mackenzie

Year published

1827

Pages

137-145

Citation Show another format:

'Religious houses: St Mary's hospital', Historical Account of Newcastle-upon-Tyne: Including the Borough of Gateshead (1827), pp. 137-145. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=43331 Date accessed: 25 May 2013. Add to my bookshelf

Highlight

(Min 3 characters)

Contents

ST. MARY'S HOSPITAL.
Footnotes

ST. MARY'S HOSPITAL.

This house has been variously designated. In the charter of Bishop Pudsey, it is called, "The Hospital of Newcastle;" and in that of Henry II. to the nuns, "of St. Mary the Blessed Virgin of the West Gate." In a record from Bishop Langley's Register, it is named, "of St. Mary and St. John the Evangelist;" also the "West Spital;" and, since the Hospital of the Trinitarians has been generally forgotten, "the Spittle," or "Spital," which is an evident corruption of hospital.

This establishment, anciently consisting of an hospital and a chapel, was founded in the reign of Henry II. by one Aselack, of Killinghowe, or Killingworth, (fn. 1) who gave the ground, and placed therein two friars regular, and a chaplain, to serve God and the poor; farther intending it to be a place of entertainment for the indigent clergy, and such pilgrims as were passing this way.

Hugh Pudsey, who was made bishop of Durham in 1154, and died in 1192, granted a charter of episcopal confirmation to this hospital; and which is still preserved among the writings of the house. A charter of confirmation was also granted by Henry II. from which it appears to have been dependant upon the nunnery of St. Bartholomew. Bourne supposes it was a cell to that convent. (fn. 2) Another charter of royal confirmation was granted by king Richard I. (fn. 3)

Robert de Heddon, clerk, with the consent and confirmation of his lord, Walter de Bolbeck, gave a yearly sum to the support of this hospital, probably on its first foundation, and on condition that the fraternity should pray for the soul of his said lord, and for his own and those of his ancestors. This donation, Bourne observes, was probably made before the time of mayors; for no mayor's name, as principal witness, is affixed to the deed. Other witnesses are, Reginald de Benwell, John Morress, and others.

Adam de Neusum, for the sake of his own soul, that of Eve his wife, and those of his ancestors and heirs, granted to the fraternity of this hospital, in free, pure, and perpetual alms, all the land they held in the village of Newsham, remitting to them an annual rent of 13d. for the same. This grant is signed by Peter Scot, mayor, who was the first appointed to this office, in 1251.

King Henry III. in 1253, granted a charter for liberties to this hospital; and about the year 1257, Julian, daughter of Agnes Blanch, made it a charitable donation, on condition that the fraternity prayed for her soul, and for the souls of her ancestors, and that she should be supplied with a lodging there whenever she visited Newcastle upon Tyne.

Martin Coyman occurs presenting a messuage to this hospital in 1259, and Roger de Quintingham as a benefactor in 1269. (fn. 4)

About the year 1269, Gerard, preacher or master of this hospital, with the brethren, demised to Robert, chaplain of Bingefeldthune and his assigns, at the annual rent of 12d. two acres of land and a toft, which had been given them by Godfrey, Lord of Bingefeld, in free, pure, and perpetual alms, for the sake of his own soul and the souls of his ancestors; and about the same time, the said Gerard and his brethren granted to Udard, son of Richard of Pilgrim Street, the land that had been given them in pure and perpetual alms by John Skinner, to hold of the said hospital at an annual rent of 5s.

In 1290, the brethren of this hospital, on their petition to the king in parliament, setting forth, that the new town wall of Newcastle had been built through the middle of their court-yard, leaving the greater part of their edifices on the outside thereof, obtained a patent for making a postern-gate of communication through the said wall.

In 1296, king Edward I. granted letters of protection to the master of this hospital. These protections to religious houses extended to their persons, servants, lands, rents, possessions, goods, and chattels. The king also granted a licence of mortmain, in 1304, to enable John de Insula (Lisle) to demise to the master and brethren of this hospital a messuage, four shops, and a rent of 16s. in the town of Newcastle upon Tyne; as also a messuage, with its appurtenances, in the said town, which Dionisia, relict of Laurence Swayn, held of the said John as her dower, and which had reverted to him at her death.

It appears from an original record, without date, that Geofry, son of Gerard of Whickham, and grandfather of Robert of Whickham (who confirmed the donation), had given to this hospital, in pure and perpetual alms, a pound of pepper and a pound of cinnamon, payable annually out of a capital messuage in that village for ever.

King Edward III. for the relief of this hospital, the possessions of which had been destroyed by various inroads of the Scots, granted a license, dated at Newcastle upon Tyne, August 2, 1334, to the fraternity of that house, to acquire lands, tenements, and rents, to the yearly value of 100s. notwithstanding the statute of mortmain. In consequence of this license, it appears that, eighteen years afterwards, the house had purchased lands and tenements to the value of 64s. per annum.

In 1335, Richard de Bury, bishop of Durham, granted a charter of confirmation to this hospital; and in 1343, it obtained a remission of all the right of Joan, widow of Nicholas de Ellirker, of Newcastle, in the lands and tenements which reverted to her as her dower, but which this house then held by the gift of her said husband. Gilbert Palmer, in 1347, also granted to the master and brethren of this hospital a messuage and ten acres of land, in the town and territory of Newbigging on the Moor.

In a charter of confirmation, granted by king Edward III. in 1351, this fraternity is styled, "the prior and brethren." In 1369, Thomas Hatfield, bishop of Durham, on the death of Friar William de Norton, created Robert de Morton canon of the church of the Blessed Mary, in West Gate, Newcastle, of the order of St. Austin, prior of that church. He had been elected before by an authority which the bishop refused to admit.

King Edward III. having granted a licence to Allan Pulthore, of Newcastle, to assign a rent of 100s. out of three messuages in that town, to a chaplain, to perform daily service in a chantry in All Saints' church, for the souls of all the faithful, and which the said Allan neglected to perform; the king made a similar grant to John the son and heir of Allan. This John duly assigned the said rents to this fraternity, till, the tenements becoming empty, no rents could be raised; upon which, the said John, anxious to preserve the chantry, assigned the three messuages themselves to this fraternity, who being thus in possession, with the royal licence, the king, in 1378, on a fine of ten pounds being paid him by William de Norton, master, and the brethren of the house, granted a licence of mortmain, confirming the gift of the messuages instead of the rents to the said house.

In 1401, Brother William de Burnham, prior and master of the hospital of St. Mary, in West Gate, granted a messuage, and three shops, before the great gate of the castle of Newcastle, to John White, draper and burgess of that town, at the annual rent of 37s. Upon the death of this William de Burnham, which happened August 9, 1412, William Karlell and Robert Lekynfeld, the then only surviving regular brethren of this hospital (called, at this time, "The Hospital of the Blessed Virgin and St. John the Evangelist"), transferred their right to elect a new master to Thomas Langley, then bishop of Durham. The bishop, in the following year, collated the above-named William Karlell, who resigned in 1416.

In 1416, the bishop of Durham issued a citation to warn the master of his intention to visit this house, and at the same time a commission for the safe keeping of the goods of the hospital. The bishop also, in 1426, issued a sentence of excommunication against every person stealing the goods of this house. (fn. 5) In 1429, the elder Roger Thornton bequeathed two fothers of lead to the reparation of this hospital.

The revenues of this hospital, in 1535, were valued at £26, 13s. 4d. (fn. 6) It came to the crown by the statute of the 31st Henry VIII. in 1540, for the dissolution of abbies, priories, colleges, and hospitals; but it never appears to have come in charge before the auditors of the county of Northumberland, nor to have paid rent to the king's receiver there. The house, with the rents thereof, were still enjoyed; and the corporation of Newcastle presented a master to the bishop of Durham, as though the foundation had not been dissolved, or reverted to the crown. (fn. 7)

A grant is said to have been made, in 1551, of the West Spital to the Duke of Northumberland, as a parcel of the monastry of Tynemouth; (fn. 8) but it afterwards seems to have been granted in fee-simple by queen Elizabeth, under the great seal, to be held in soccage. (fn. 9)

King James I. granted a new charter to this hospital, dated May 27, 1611; the preamble whereof sets forth, that John Raymes, a former master of this house, had, in the rebellion in the north, been committed to Durham gaol, when the original charters, grants, and letters patent, concerning the foundation of this place, had been lost; as also, that attempts had been made by some persons to appropriate the possessions of the hospital to their own use: whereupon it is to be founded anew, and decreed to consist of a master, who should, at least, be a Master of Arts, and of six unmarried poor old men, constituting together a body politic in law, having a common seal, with power to sue and be sued, to let leases, &c. the mayor and burgesses of Newcastle to be the patrons. The king granted the house of the hospital at the same time, with all its possessions, under an annual rent of 13s. 4d.

A question having arisen, upon some expressions in the new charter of this hospital, whether the master's office was presentative or donative, it was answered by Henry Yelverton, July 19, 1623, in the subsequent words:—"If this church, or place, was anciently presentative, the king's new grant doth not, nor can, make it donative, especially as the grant is made, for the patrons are to enjoy it as formerly they did, or ought to enjoy it; and if the patrons should attempt to make it donative, the bishop of the diocese, after six months passed without presentation, may collate by lapse, for a church once presentative cannot, without act of parliament, or after dissolution thereof, become donative."

About the year 1738, upon a question, whether the mayor and burgesses, who, as visitors, had made an order that no leases should be let, without their consent, and had ordered a schedule of all the papers, leases, &c. to be delivered to them, had a right to do so—Dud. Ryder gave the following opinion:—"That the master and brethren may make leases for three lives, reserving the ancient rent, and take fines on granting such leases, the power by charter of granting leases reserving the last rent doth not abridge the power they have as a corporation. The master and brethren are not bound to obey the order of the mayor and burgesses, not to grant leases without their consent, but as the mayor and burgesses are visitors, the hospital ought to return such schedule as ordered. And the mayor and burgesses have a right to regulate the distribution of the profits of the estate, and to increase the maintenance and payment of the brethren, so far as is reasonable, though different from the proportions usually observed." (fn. 10)

The most important general meetings of the townsmen seem to have been anciently held in this hospital. A full guild was held at the hospital of St. Mary, West Gate, on the Friday before Valentine-day, 1343, when several articles were 1669. John Bewick, A. M. occurs as master. agreed upon for the better government of the town, which were sealed under the common seal of the corporation, and afterwards received the royal confirmation. It is also mentioned, in the ordinary of the Drapers' Company, dated June 1, 1512, that the election of the mayor and officers of the town had been, by the ancient usage of that place, held in this hospital.

When the great charter of the 42d of Elizabeth was obtained, the chancel of the old church of this hospital was converted into an election-room for the corporation of Newcastle.* "The grand eastern window," writes Brand, "now entirely built up, contained in its painted, or stained glass, an image of the Virgin Mary, with her child on her knees. In this window, also, Sir George Selby, who was mayor in 1600, put up his own arms, and made, as Bourne adds, 'a traverse over it, and sent to London for twenty-four chairs of mustinie leather (quære), and there is the election, though the mayor lays down his staff in the old school,' i. e. in the place which is now the writing school, and was formerly the grammar school, before the present one was fitted up. To do this, it appears they have pulled down the side aisles of the hospital church, and inclosed the middle aisle by a wall on each side, under the arches. There has been a large window, now built up also, at the west end. This was plainly discovered at the opening out of one of these arches, on making a new entrance to this place, A. D. 1782. The present wood floor of the school covers the pavement of the old chapel or church, which consisted of Dutch tiles, of different colours, disposed lozenge-wise. There is still preserved a very observable old table in the writing school, over which, on the election day, the old mayor breaks his rod. It appears, from the style of some of its ornaments, as old as Henry VI.'s time."

The "Spitle Almous House," mentioned in St. John's Register, September, 1592, stood between the chapel and Westgate Street, in the ground now called the "Town's Yard." The "six poor unmarried brothers" lived in a large room, and were attended every day by a woman, who kept their hall clean and cooked their victuals. An old nmate stated to one of the brothers, now living, that they were paid 5s. each every week, and lived very comfortably. In Bourne's plan of the town, the Spital Almshouse stands on the west side of the gate leading to the Grammar-school. Brand says, "it was pulled down not many years ago, and a handsome house erected on its scite." Perhaps the alms-house was a distinct building, which has been confounded with the ancient hospital. However, the poor brothers were removed, above fifty years ago, to a house in the Pudding Chare, nearly opposite to Rosemary Lane. Each has a room and two fothers of coals in the year, with six pounds in cash, or about two shillings and four-pence per week.*

Footnotes

1 "Ego Aselack de Killinghowe fundavi hospitale Sanctæ Mariæ Virginis & capellam super terram meam in Novo Castello super Tynam et ibi posui duos fratres regulares et unum capellanum ad serviendum Deo et pauperibus: reddidi meipsum Deo & beatæ Mariæ, & fratribus ejusdem hospitalis ibidem Deo servientibus ad hospitandem pauperes et egenos clericos & peregrinos transeuntes pro salute animæ patris mei matris meæ & omnium pertinentium & pro salute animarum omnium hospitalis benefactorum."—Lib. Cart. Some of the witnesses were, "Gilbert, parson of Eland, Richard, parson of Standfordham, Waldon, parson of Newburne, Eustachius, parson of Benton." Bourne styles Aselack the second founder; and having found a Lord Walter de Bolbeck conveying lands to the church of Winchester, A. D. 1135, and one of the same name among the first benefactors to this place, he thinks them one and the same person, adding that "it is a strong reason that this hospital was founded in king Henry I.'s reign." But the above words, "suyer terram meam fundavi," clearly infer that Aselack raised the structure from the ground. One Walter de Bolbeck founded the abbey of Blanchland in 1165, about the time of the first foundation of this house, to which, observes Brand, "that baron may have been a benefactor before he was sixty years of age.—It may be added," he continues, "that what he (Bourne) has cited from the charter of Henry II. to the nuns of Newcastle, favours our hypothesis; as does also the conflrmation charter to this house by Richard I. mentioned afterwards, in which Aselack the founder is spoken of as then alive."
2 In Leland's Collectanea, vol. i. p. 41, is the following note:—"Monasterium monialium S. Bartholomei in Novo Castro super Tinam Fl.'—Hospitale S. Mariæ de predicto Castello in usus monialium datum."
3 "Sciatis me dedisse et concessisse Domino et Sanctæ Mariæ & Sanctimonialibus de Novo Castello pro salute animæ meæ et antecessorum meorum.—Aselack burgensem meum de Novo Castello," &c.—Lib. Cart. Bourne, p. 31, from a charter of Richard I.—In this too is pointed out the connection of this house with the nunnery.
4 Nicholas Essot was a benefactor in 1292, Robert Tunnikysiman and Matilda his wife in 1305, and William Herringe in 1317. No dates are attached to the names of the following benefactors:—Alan de Wylam, Alan de Gateside, John Porter, Thomas de Gosforth, Radulphus de Causie, William son of Robert de Corbrigg, Gilbert de Mora.
5 The following curious account of the wardrobe, &c. of this hospital, dated 1444, is given by Bourne:—"Three gilt chalices, one entire vestment of bloody velvet, woven about with gold fringes, with one cap, one casule, and three albs for the principal festivals.—Also one cap of cloth of gold, of red colour, wrought with golden images, with one casule, and three albs.—One cap of a black colour, woven, with dragons and birds, in gold.—One single vestment, wrought in with peacocks, with a corporal belonging to the same.—Another single vestment, for the priest, only of white, bordered about with roses, and with a corporal belonging to it.— Another, of a bloody colour, with a corporal.—Another, of cloth of gold.—Another of the same, interwoven with leopards and birds.—One hood, or cap.—One casule.—One alb, with a stole.—A single vestment, for the priest, in the hands of John Fitzhenry, the present master.—One single vestment, for the priest of St. Nicholas.—One hood.—A cover of bloody velvet, for a sepulchre.—Two casules: the middle of white colour.—One hood, of a red colour, for an ornament to the altar of St. Nicholas.—Two linen cloths, of a red colour, for the side ornament of the altar.—One frontale, of sattin, of a bloody colour, woven with golden images, for the altar.—One quadrigesimal veil, of linen cloth, of white colour, with a red cross below in the same.—One table, set apart as an ornament for the linen of the altar.—One table, gilded, with the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary.—Two tables, with the pax, one of them gilded, and beset with precious stones, &c."
6 The following account of this house is preserved in a certificate of colleges and chantries in Northumberland and Durham, 37 Henry VIII. A. D. 1546, remaining in the Augmentation Office:—"The hospitalle of our Ladye called West-Gate-Spittell within the towne of Newcastell upon Tyne—was founded (as it is reported) by the inhabitants of the towne of Newcastell to have a master contynually resident upon the same and a chaplayn with hym to say divyne service ther and to kepe six bedefolks in the almes howse ther and to lodge all poor and waifayring people beinge destitute of lodginge and to bury suche as fortuned ther to dye at the costs and charges of the said master and to distribute yerely nine chalders of coles amonge poore people and to give ten shillings yerely in redy money to the bedefolks towards the maintaining of their lyvynge, which order is not observyd at this present—Yerely value £25, 13s. 4d.—value according to this survey £33, 15s. as apereth by a rentall whereof is to be deducted for a rent resolut' 13s. 4d. for an yerely almes 19s. and for the tenthes paid to the Kinges majestie 53s. 4d.—£4, 5s. 8d.—And remayneth clear £29, 9s. 4d. which Robert Davell doctor of the lawe now master of the said hospitall taketh and perceiveth yerely to his own use and is not resident upon the same hospital nor in hospitalitie ther kept savyng one preest that kepeth the house and orchards and hath fyve pounds yerely for his stipend by way of one annuitie. The said hospitall is no parishe church of itself but is within the parish of Seynt Nicholas afforesaid—Value of ornaments, jewells, plate, goodes and catalls £9, 14s. 3d. as apereth by a perticuler inventory of the same Ther wer no other landes nor yerely profitts belonging to the said hospitall syth the 4th of February in the 26. yere of the Kinges majesties reigne more than is mentioned to our knowledge." Bourne quotes the substance of the preceding, which he calls a third foundation of the hospital, though it seems to relate merely to some enlargement of the original foundation.
7 Randall's MSS. say this hospital is valued, in the king's books, at £9, 11s. 5½d.—The yearly tenths, 19s. 1¾d.—Episcopal procuration, 13s. 4d. By a rental of this hospital, dated 1547, it appears to have had property in West Gate, Denton Chare, Pudding Chare, Meal Market, Flesh Market, Big Market, Middle Street, without New Gate, in St. Nicholas' Church-yard, before the Castle Gate, in the Side, in the Sandhill and Close, in Pilgrim Street, in Manor Chare, Pandon and All Saints' Street, White Cross, rents of gardens without the Close Gate and in the Forth, all in, or contiguous to, Newcastle; also at Jesmouth, Whickham, Whittonstale, Fenham, Newsham, Bolam, Old Heaton, Wossington, Mearsfen, Horton and Stewkley, Newbiggen on the Moor, Byngfield, Stamfordham and Hewght, Little Babington, and in Riddesdale.
8 Brand found a MS. note in the hutch of Newcastle, A. D. 1565, containing the following articles relating to this house:—"An exemplification of certain presentations made touching the West Spittell.—An indenture, containing goods, and the contents of them, sometime belonging to the West Spitell.—An instrument, declaring that certain priests, there named, desired (of) the mayor and bailiffs of Newcastle, as patrons and founders of the West Spitell, to be admitted as brethren into the same.—An indenture of the goods belonging to the West Spitell.—The presentation of the West Spitell." And in an inquisition, dated September 2, 1577, he found the subsequent, concerning this and the other hospitals of the town:—"Item, the Weste Spittell, the hospitalle called the Magdalens and the chapell of Saint Thomas otherwyse called the chapell of Tyne Brydge Ende hath been gyven by the maior and comburgesses of the said towne of Newcastell tyme without memorye of man,—for we have sene dyvers and sundrye auntient graunts remaynyng in our towne chamber of the donations thereof soo that we find no consilement thereof haithe bene from her majestie nor from any of her noble progenitors."
9 Mr. N. Punshon communicated the following note to Mr. Brand:—"At the Rolls, 9 Dec. 22 Eliz. p. 8, (A. D. 1580) Grant to John Farneham in fee of the Hospital of the Blessed Mary in West Gate in Newcastle called the West Spittle: and of a house belonginge to the chantery of the Blessed Mary Magdalene in Newcastle, and divers hereditaments belonging to the said hospital and chantery." Bourne says that, "In the 24th of the reign of queen Elizabeth, the hospital of St. Mary, in West Gate, and St. Mary Magdelene, without Pilgrim Street Gate, were granted to Theophilus Adams, and James Woodshaws, under the yearly rent of 3s. 4d."
10 The following is a list of the masters of this ancient hospital, as far as their names can be discovered in archives of the house and other documents:—
One Radulphus was master, but at what time is not said.
A. D. 1251. One Simon was master.
Robert Lucey succeeded him.
1264. A person named Simon was again the master.
1267. John Norrys was master.
1269. Gerard occurs as preacher or master.
1292. Hugh de Pandon appears to have been the rector or master of this hospital.
1333. One James was master.
1371. Robert de Morden held the mastership.
1401. William de Burnham was master.
1413. The bishop of Durham elected William Karlell master.
1417. William Karlell having resigned, the bishop collated John Fitzhenry, canon of the priory of Newbrugh, in ths diocese of York, to the mastership of this hospital.
1501. John Bird, LL. B. was master.
1528. Roland Swinburne, A. M. was inducted to the mastership of this hospital, to which he was presented by Edward Swinburn, mayor, and the community of Newcastle upon Tyne, who claimed to be the true patrons thereof. This Swinburn exchanged the mastership with Robert Davell for a prebend in Norton church.
1531. On the 29th of August this year, Robert Davell, clerk, was presented by Gibert Myddleton, Esq. mayor, the sheriff, aldermen, and community of Newcastle upon Tyne. He was also rector of Ryton, and subsequently archdeacon of Northumberland. He appears to have been an amateur in antiquities, to whom the famous Leland seems to have been recommended when he visited this town, in his tour through England. "Mister Doctor Davell" told to the antiquary, "that the limes of the bishopricke goith beyond the mouth of the Darwent up apon Trente (Tyne) even to the paroch of Rytoun." He also gave an account of his own baronial descent, "as Mr. Doctor Davelle sayith, but sufficiently to me proved not." On January 26, 1532, there was an exemplification of a record of the common pleas, whereby the presentation to this hospital was adjudged to pertain to the town of Newcastle, and not to the king.
1558. John Raymes, A. M. was instituted to the mastership of this hospital, vacant by the death of Doctor Davell. He had been presented by John Swinburn, of Chopwell, Esq, and John Swynborn, of Wylom, Gent. patrons for that turn, by an advowson from the mayor, sheriff, aldermen, and community of Newcastle upon Tyne.
1579. On the 9th of October this year, Anthony Garforthe, clerk, was instituted to the mastership of this hospital, on the deprivation of Raymes for contumacy (May 29th preceding), and on the presentation of Ralph Lawson, of Brough, in Yorkshire, Esq. and William Selbie, merchant and alderman of Newcastle, for that turn, by an advowson from Richard Hodshon, mayor, and the burgesses of Newcastle upon Tyne.
1580. Henry Dethicke, LL. B. was instituted to the mastership of this house on the death of Garforthe, and on the presentation of the mayor and burgesses of Newcastle. He was official of the dean of York, under Dr. M. Hutton.
1583. Ralph Pattenson, A. M. was presented to the mastership, on the resignation of Henry Dethicke, by the mayor and burgesses of Newcastle upon Tyne.
1585. Henry Ewbank, A. M. prebendary of Durham and rector of Whickham, was instituted to the mastership of this hospital, to which he was presented by the mayor and burgesses aforesaid, upon the resignation of Pattenson. The mayor and burgesses brought an action against Ewbank, relative to the rents of the hospital. It was tried at York, when the court decreed, March 21, 1614, Ewbank to pay one hundred pounds to the mayor and burgesses, but no costs in the suit. This Ewbank was successively rector of Washington and Winston, prebendary of the 12th stall, and prebendary of Litchfield.
1618. Robert Fowberry, A. M. occurs as master this year. He probably succeeded Ewbank, who resigned October 18, 1615. He was also master of the Royal Grammar School.
1623. Edward Wigham, A. M. was instituted to the mastership, on the presentation of the king, to whom, according to Bishop Neile's Register, through lapse of time, that right had reverted for this turn.
1629. Francis Gray, A. M. was appointed master of this hospital, on the death of Wigham. He was also master of the Grammar School.
1649. Nicholas Hall, B. D. Fellow of Emanuel College, Cambridge, and rector of Loughborough, county of Leicester, held the mastership of this hospital. He had been ejected and plundered in 1642, after which he removed to Elemore, in the county of Durham. He was cousin, heir-male, and devisee of Sir Alexander Hall, of Elemore, son of William Hall, merchant and alderman of Newcastle upon Tyne, sheriff thereof in 1624.
1671. Richard Garthwaite, A. M. appears to have been master.
1690. John Cotterell, A. M. occurs as master of this house.
1699. Thomas Rud, A. M. is mentioned as the master of this hospital.
1710. James Jurin, A. M. appears to have held the mastership.
1715. Robert Thomlinson, D. D. was appointed master of this hospital.
1738. Richard Dawes, A. M. was appointed to the mastership of St. Mary's hospital.
1749. Henry Featherstonehalgh, B. D. occurs as master of this hospital. From the archives of the hospital, it appears that in 1775 this master granted to Philadelphia Horsley a lease of lands in Bolam, belonging to the said hospital, for three lives.—Fine on renewal of one life, £67, 12s. 8d.—Yearly rent, £1, 2s. 4d.—Land, 120 acres.
1779. At a common council, held June 14, this year, Hugh Moises, A. M. was appointed master, on a vacancy by the death of Featherstonehalgh.
1806. The present master, the learned Edward Moises, A. M. succeeded his venerable uncle, who died in the month of July this year.
11 Bourne informs us, that "the Election-house was at the east end of it (the chapel), which had been the vestry." Brand says this is a mistake, "for the vestry projected to the south—it is now a cellar. It communicated, in his time, by a door with the chancel." For a description of the present state of this building, see account of the Royal Grammar School.